The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I know I'm asking for trouble with this one, but let's at least try and keep it on topic beyond the inevitable abuse because I am looking for some advice.

I am thinking about my first Panerai and have narrowed it down to three - if I am going to go PAM, then it's going to be a serious PAM, so..........

Which do you prefer, and why - 311, 317 or 339?

LOL


3 incredible pieces roff. not sure about the availability of each as i suspect the 339 will have long waiting lists and will be sold out. depends on whether you like the luminor w/crownguard or the radiomir case. i like to keep it simple with panerai so i'd go 339 but some prefer more complicated pieces like the 317. the 311 is a distant 3rd for me. i'd prolly go 233 before 311.

From one fellow "former' Pam hater to another... I went with the 312 this week and boy was I wrong to hate this watch for such a long time! It's spectacular.

My final decision was based on these points:

1- I wanted their in-house movement
2- I wanted a Sandwhich Dial
3- I wanted a date window without a cyclopse

Out of your 3 choices I love the 311, 8 day manual, GMT, titanium, BEAUTIFUL piece. Good Luck.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

OK, I am not going to drag this on TOO much, at least not int his thread. I am just going to say two things.


1- I TOLD YOU YOU WOULD EVENTUALLY CAVE! BWA HA HA HA HA!!!

2- Welcome to the madness.


About your selections, all fine examples of Panerai. My personal favorite and recommendation is the 339, fantastic design and very innovative features. The 317 and 311 are great for similar reasons, what with the ceramic and titanium cases being so well executed. Also, the chrono movement is lovely as well.

I am a fan of all three, though i did sell my 311. I dont think you can go wrong with any of them but honestly, I cant recommend either as a first Panerai, simply because they are too specialty, they are more like fifth PAMs. I personally would go for something closer to core Panerai, like a 320 or a 312 or even a base Luminor and then get something a bit more sophisticated.

Also, I dont think the PAM 339 is really an option, I have been looking for an AD to give me a slot and they all tell me they have lists as long as you would like. If you can score one from an AD I would definitely pick it up if for just the resale, otherwise let me know

Whichever way you go Roff, I am sure you will not be disappointed.

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Certified watch nut.

Well Roff, you're not doing things by halves if those are the pieces you're looking at for a first PAM!

I prefer Luminors to Radiomirs - my next acquisition is likely to be a 312 (or maybe a 320 but I'm not sold on the 12hr GMT hand). Out of your three, I would be leaning towards the 317 and the 311, probably in that order.

I'm another reformed Panerai hater, by the way.

At the risk of giving you something else to throw back at me in a couple of years......

I'm not looking at multiple PAMs at this point. As I have said a few times I am looking for different things in my collection, and that means that at this point in my collection there is only room for one PAM, and I want it to be special. That said, if they do start making skeleton models (I'm not going to be buying a 348) then I'll look at them, but I don't see me adding a 233, 312, etc. My wife still wants a 243 - had an angle on an 025 for her, but she's stuck on the 243.

If I do go 339 then I accept that it will likely be secondary market - I'm guessing that the price will be comparable between the three.

How about a 275, that's pretty darn special. In-house manual, 8 day power reserve, GMT, sandwhich dial, and a 1950 case.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Prefer the 317 or 311 for bringing even more to the party in terms of case - ceramic or titanium with the same movement as the 275.

I really dont like Radiomirs, let alone brown ones, so that would be out for me. The other two are a tossup. The 311 is perhaps more versatile, but the 317 is just sooo bad ass looking with the black finish. Either would be a nice entry into pam-dom (pamdamonium? <---did I just make up a new word?). Perfect blend of actually usable features, very nicely designed, symmetrical dials, manifattura...nice.

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-RJ

Dont really care for any of them all that much.

I like the brown dial of the 311 but rustic look of like 339. Dont like the 317 at all. For PAMS, not being a real enthusiast of them I go for looks usually. I know for you though its more than that when purchasing each of your pieces.

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

Of the 3, I'd say buy the 339 if you can even get ahold of one. If you can't, then I'd go with the 311.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

I think if you are looking for something really unique the 339 is the way to go. This is coming from a huge 317 fan..

No 348?? Whats $150K to put out for a PAM? haha

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Breitling Emergency Mission-- Breitling B01--
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Well well well! As much as I'd relish the opportunity to give my fellow mod some stick about this HUGE change of heart, I think I should tread a little carefully as I've been known to have one or two errr...... "about-faces" on here myself! As a result I shall avoid any mention of indecision and mind-changing, etc, etc! So I shall just say, welcome to the club. (The mind-changing club that is! )

On to the subject at hand - if it was my cash, it'd have to be the 317 every time for me.

I'm going to discount the 311 immediately as it's titanium, which is a complete no-no for me.

Reasons for the 317 are as follows -

Firstly, you might actually find one! The 339 has gained something of a "white whale" mythical status already so the odds of finding one for a while are slim to none.

Secondly, the 317 is ceramic which has a bit of weight to it. The 339 is (by all accounts) very light and I don't like light watches.

Thirdly, the 317 has by far the more interesting movement. Yes I KNOW that complications fly in the face of what Panerai is generally all about, but if you only (currently at least!) plan to have one, and the simplicity of the 312 doesn't do it for you, then have an interesting one.

Forthly, the 317 has a display back. Enough said.

Fifthly, IMO the 317 just looks more mean and more cool! Very subjective I know, but that's how I feel about the 317.

And lastly, IMO Panerai's should have a black dial. Brown doesn't really do it for me. (That's another negative against the 311 for me too).

That said, the 339 is still a very nice piece, but I think that a lot of the hype that goes with it is because it's rare and hard to get hold of. I can't help thinking that apart from the case material, the only reason it gets so much attention is because of the Panerai-imposed rarity. In my opinion the 317 is the more interesting piece by some considerable margin.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Uhm....
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Of your choices, the 317 definitely, but only the series with DLC movements, because even though the DLC/PVD is a cosmetic complication, it's er... complicated to make apparently.

Upcoming 317s are supposed to only have tinted sapphire display backs in lieu of -- which is not desirable to me.

Do ask when you're looking at straps next...

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a few Pams...

Personally I'm a fan of the simpler style PAMs, the 111 is the most perfect PAM in my opinion, well next to the 312. That being said, out of your 3 options I'd go with the 317. The ceramic case is an amazing feature along with the display caseback. The GMT function is one of my favorite functions on any watch and the overall style of it is absolutely amazing plus the in-house 8 day power reserve manual movement, there's not much to say about that. Is it a classic PAM, no, but if you want just one special PAM then I think it would be a great choice. It's so different from the rest of their lineup that it just really stands out to me. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."